TIMELINE

BELOW IS A HISTORICAL TIMELINE OF KEY MOMENTS IN OUR RESEARCH JOURNEY SO FAR

festival announced

  • Festival Save The Date released

  • Festival programme published

  • ‘Basic Income for Artists: An Online Conversation' seminar in association with Basic Income For Artists Scotland

WRITE UP COMPLETE

  • First draft of research report completed and copy-edited by Hanieh Khosroshahi

  • First session of our new monthly gathering ‘Holding Space’ held at Pluto Q and facilitated by Dr Kevin Leomo

COMMISSION CALL OUT

  • Commission call-out for four artists to respond to our prompt ‘Scotland's creative landscape reimagined: possibilities and transformation’

  • Planning for our Wellbeing Festival (Sep 26) underway

  • Focussed review of venue accessibility with our access and inclusion consultant Kiana Kalantar-Hormozi

COMMUNITY MEAL

  • Group interview transcription complete

  • Community Meal hosted in Glasgow for Steering Group and Research Participants

GROUP INTERVIEWS BEGIN

  • Group interviews begin (1 online, 4 in-person in Aberdeen, Glasgow South, Glasgow East, Edinburgh) 

  • Website launched

  • Call out for 6 interview groups starts (2 online, 4 in-person in Dundee, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh) 

  • Creative collage-making methodology implemented

  • Includes therapeutic support

Phase 1 Interview CALL OUTS Begin

RESEARCH REFINED & AFTERCARE DEVELOPED

  • Participatory creative research methodology refined and subsequently reviewed by Dr Cheryl McGeachen 

  • Aftercare provisions are developed, including vetting of psychotherapists & counsellors for 1:1 support 

CORE THEMES ANNOUNCED

  • Three core themes publicly announced from initial research: 

  1. Need for safe, BPOC-led spaces 

  2. Systemic change in creative industries 

  3. Economic pressures impacting mental health 

  • Decision to focus on theme 1 (BPOC-led spaces) due to feasibility of project scope 

  • Research planning underway, including engagement with organisations across Scotland 

  • Session exploring terminology takes place with Steering Group 

  • Creative Balance partners with EMCC/Engender providing support to expand team

  • Loa Pour Mirza joins as Research Assistant

TEAM EXPANSION

ACADEMIC PARTNERSHIP

  • Collaboration established with Dr. Cheryl McGeachan at Glasgow University

  • Research methodology refined with academic 

FIRST PUBLIC UPDATE

  • Project blog launches sharing progress with wider community

  • Three main research themes identified (not yet disclosed publicly)

  • Resource mapping begins across Scottish organisations and support services

RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT

  • Individual case studies conducted to ensure further intersectional experiences captured

STEERING GROUP FORMATION

  • 10-person Steering Group established with BPOC creatives and cultural professionals from across Scotland

  • Three 2-hour meetings held to explore mental health experiences and research priorities

PROJECT LAUNCH

  • Creative Balance officially launches with initial funding from The Baring Foundation and Creative Scotland

  • Recruitment begins for Steering Group members across Scotland